purchase

American  

[pur-chuhs] / ˈpɜr tʃəs /

verb (used with object)

purchased, purchasing

1. to acquire by the payment of money or its equivalent; buy.

   Synonyms:

   procure, obtain, get

   Antonyms:

   sell

2. to acquire by effort, sacrifice, flattery, etc.

3. to influence by a bribe.

4. to be sufficient to buy.

   Twenty dollars purchases a subscription.

5. Law. to acquire (land or other property) by means other than inheritance.

6. to move, haul, or raise, especially by applying mechanical power.

7. to get a leverage on; apply a lever, pulley, or other aid to.

8. Obsolete. to procure, acquire, or obtain.

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verb (used without object)

purchased, purchasing

1. to buy something.

noun

1. acquisition by the payment of money or its equivalent; buying, or a single act of buying.

2. something that is purchased or bought.

3. something purchased, with respect to value in relation to price; buy.

   At three for a dollar they seemed like a good purchase.

4. Law. the acquisition of land or other property by means other than inheritance.

5. acquisition by means of effort, labor, etc..

   the purchase of comfort at the price of freedom.

6. a lever, pulley, or other device that provides mechanical advantage or power for moving or raising a heavy object.

   Synonyms:

   capstan, winch

7. an effective hold or position for applying power in moving or raising a heavy object; leverage.

8. any means of applying or increasing power, influence, etc.

9. the annual return or rent from land.

10. a firm grip or grasp, footing, etc., on something.

11. Obsolete. booty.

purchase British  

/ ˈpɜːtʃɪs /

verb

1. to obtain (goods, etc) by payment

2. to obtain by effort, sacrifice, etc

   to purchase one's freedom

3. to draw, haul, or lift (a load) with the aid of mechanical apparatus

4. to acquire (an estate) other than by inheritance

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noun

1. something that is purchased, esp an article bought with money

2. the act of buying

3. acquisition of an estate by any lawful means other than inheritance

4. a rough measure of the mechanical advantage achieved by a lever

5. a firm foothold, grasp, etc, as for climbing or levering something

6. a means of achieving some influence, advantage, etc

Related Words

See buy.

Other Word Forms

• mispurchase verb (used with object)
• nonpurchase noun
• nonpurchaser noun
• overpurchase verb (used with object)
• prepurchase noun
• prepurchaser noun
• purchaser noun
• quasi-purchased adjective
• unpurchased adjective

Etymology

Origin of purchase

First recorded before 1150; (for the verb) Middle English purchasen, from Anglo-French purchacer “to seek to obtain, procure,” from pur- (from Latin prō pro ¹ ) + chacer “to chase” ( chase ¹ ); noun derivative of the verb

Example Sentences

That cost is passed along to automakers when they purchase the aluminum.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

For $75.75 you can purchase the entire menu.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

When trades were closed, the money would be returned, plus or minus the price movement since purchase.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Customers can reduce the cost of their first and second bags by $5 if they pay the fee more than 24 hours in advance, but a third bag costs $200 at any time of purchase.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

I snap to, scrabbling with my legs until I get purchase on the top edge of the car.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Related Words

• acquire
• earn
• invest
• pick up
• procure
• redeem
• shop
• take